INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION AND LABOUR

REGULATION
International Labour Organization (ILO)

 ILO was formed in 1919 as a specialized agency of the United Nations to

develop and promote labour standards.
 The ILO has over the years evolved into the international
 flagship organization in the internationalization of labour law and standards.
Philadelphia Declaration

 The broad and overarching principles of the ILO are proclaimed in the
Philadelphia Declaration of 1944 which affirmed its aims and purposes:
Freedom of expression and association

 That labour is not a commodity.

 Freedom of expression and association are essential to sustained progress;
and
 Poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere.
 ‘War against want and privation would only be won with concerted and
unceasing effort to promote the common welfare.”
Promotion of lasting world peace

 The broad principles seek to promote lasting world peace and harmony by
realizing regulation of, a) hours of work, b) labour supply, c) prevention of
unemployment, d) provision of adequate living wage, e) protection against
sickness, disease and injury,
 Promotion of lasting world peace

 f) protection of foreign workers, g) recognition of the principle of equal

remuneration for work of value, e) recognition of the principle of freedom of
association, and f) the organization of vocational and technical education and
other measures.
Membership of the ILO

 Membership of the ILO is open to all nations which are members of the of
United Nations Membership. Organs of ILO are created by virtue of the
provisions of Article 2 of the ILO Constitution which provides for the
following:
 (a) A General Conference of representatives of the Members.
 (b) A Governing Body.
 (c) An International Labour Office controlled by the Governing Body.
General Conference
 The General Conference is modelled on the tri-partite framework with
membership drawn from government, workers’ representatives and
representatives of employers.
 Delegates to the General Conference, held at least once each year have
voting rights.
Governing Body
 The Governing Body consists of 28 Representatives of Governments, 14 of
employers and 14 of workers elected from among the members of the General
Conference.
 The International Labour Office is established in accordance with the
Constitution and managed by a Director-General appointed by the Governing
Body.
Functions of the International Labour
Office
 The functions of the International Labour Office are provided for in the ILO
 Constitution and include:
 Collection and distribution of information on all subjects relating to the
international adjustment of conditions of industrial life and labour.
 To facilitate conclusion of International Conventions, and
ILO Conventions and Recommendations

 To Conduct of investigations as may be ordered by the Conference or by the

Governing Body.
 ILO Conventions and Recommendations
 The ILO creates International Labour Law and sets standards through its
decision making machinery of the General Conference. Decisions of the
General Conference can take two forms namely: conventions which have
treaty status and recommendations where members do not wish to give treaty
status to 111).
ILO Conventions and Recommendations

 the subject of the recommendations.187 Recommendations or conventions

are carried by two thirds majority vote.
 Implementation of the conventions and recommendations is facilitated by the
requirement to submit annual reports.188Members may also cite others for
non-observance of the Constitution189and pledge to cooperate with any
inquiries that may arise.
Standard setting function
 The standard setting function of the ILO through its conventions and
recommendations has created a large body of international labour standards.
 Eight Conventions regarded as Core Conventions are highlighted as specified
in the in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
These are binding on all members by virtue of membership of the ILO.
The eight conventions
 The eight conventions and the principles they espouse are listed below:
  Freedom of Association and the Effective Recognition of the Right to
Collective Bargaining
 1. Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention,
1948 (No. 87).
The eight conventions
 2. Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).
  The Elimination of all Forms of Forced and Compulsory Labour
 3. Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29).
 4. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105).
  The Effective Abolition of Child Labour
The eight conventions
 5. Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138).
 6. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182).
  The Elimination of Discrimination in Employment and Occupation
 7. Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100).
 8. Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No.